How to play Red River Valley on guitar
A waltz in three with three chords. The easiest place to learn the bass-strum-strum that makes an accompaniment sound real.
At a glance
- Key G major
- Time 3/4
- Level Easy
- Chords G, C, D7
Why this song is worth learning
This song exists to teach you one thing, and it is a valuable one: the waltz accompaniment. Bass note on beat one, strum on beats two and three. It is the pattern behind most folk playing in 3/4, it sounds immediately more musical than plain strumming, and Red River Valley has slow enough changes that you can concentrate on the right hand.
The chords, as shapes
| Chord | Frets (low E to high e) |
|---|---|
| G | 3 2 0 0 0 3 |
| C | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| D7 | x x 0 2 1 2 |
x means do not play that string, 0 means play it open. Tap any shape on the page to hear it.
Play along
Press play. The track counts you in, clicks the beat and lights up the chord you should be holding. Drop the tempo while you are learning and raise it once you can get through without stopping.
Chord order
| Verse | G | G | C | C | G | G | D7 | D7 | G | G | C | C | G | D7 | G | G |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 3 beats per bar.
The bass-and-strum pattern
G — one bar of the pattern
6:3 3:0+2:0+1:3 4:0 3:0+2:0+1:3
C — one bar of the pattern
5:3 3:0+2:1+1:0 4:2 3:0+2:1+1:0
D7 — one bar of the pattern
4:0 3:2+2:1+1:2 5:0 3:2+2:1+1:2
Every note comes straight out of the chord shape, so if you can hold the chord you can play the pattern. Numbers are string:fret, counting string 1 as the thin high E.
How to learn it
- Learn G, C and D7. D7 is easier than D for most beginners.
- On G alone, pick the low E string on beat one, then strum the top three strings on beats two and three.
- Do the same on C, picking the fifth string as the bass note, and on D7, picking the fourth.
- Play bars one to four: two bars of G, two of C.
- Add D7 and play the full sixteen bars with the play-along.
Tips that matter
- The bass note changes with the chord. Low E for G, fifth string for C, fourth string for D7. Getting this right is what makes the pattern sound correct.
- Strum only the thin strings on beats two and three. Hitting all six makes it sound heavy and muddles the bass note.
- Count one, two, three out loud. Three-beat time slips into four very easily when you stop counting.
Questions about Red River Valley
What chords are in Red River Valley?
G, C and D7 in the key of G. All three are open chords and D7 is one of the easier shapes.
What is the strumming pattern for Red River Valley?
Bass note on beat one, strum on beats two and three. This is the standard waltz accompaniment and it suits the song better than plain strumming.
Is Red River Valley in 3/4?
Yes, it is a waltz in three. Count one, two, three for each bar.
Is Red River Valley public domain?
Yes. It is a nineteenth-century North American folk song with no identified author.